I write, direct, and produce films and series that examine neglected social issues to inspire compassionate action on our planet. This year I completed my first feature, LIVE OUT LOUD, a documentary that illustrates the transformative power of filmmaking. Shot over one year, this documentary tells the stories of Sumaiyya, David, and John, three people experiencing homelessness in Portland, Oregon as they are empowered and begin to heal from childhood trauma by learning to make films in a grant-funded class. The film was scored by the world-renowned musicians of The Gallop Quintet, featuring Kidd Jordan on sax, Hamid Drake on percussion, Alex de Grassi on guitar, and Don Paul on spoken word. In addition to working on my own projects, I co-produce Connectivity Project, a documentary series about people and organizations making a positive impact on our interconnected world, and serve as Vice President for the McMinnville Short Film Festival. Before shifting my focus to film, I taught writing and literature at Portland Community College in Portland, Oregon for many years. In 2020 I moved back to my birth state, Kentucky, in order to be closer to family. I grew up on a cattle and tobacco farm in Bourbon County long before smoking was out and Bourbon was cool. As a person with chronic Lyme and autoimmune disease, I'm eager to get started on documentaries that address inequities for people with both visible and invisible disabilities.